April 7, the fourth year of Yonglu's reign (1561), is Imakawa Kaede's birthday.
Yu Qiuping failed to prepare a birthday gift for her this year, but Imagawa Kaede had no regrets at all. Because she had already received the best birthday gift - Yu Qiu Shang's peace.
After four months of meticulous care from Yu Qiuping and Imagawa Kaede, Yu Qiu Shang's health finally improved. During these four months, Yu Qiuping was on tenterhooks every day, fearing that Yu Qiu Shang would be infected with the terrible disease.
disease. God is wise. This child, who was predicted by the doctor to live soon, survived the first four months tenaciously, and his body was obviously much better. And Yu Qiuyou, not only can grab toys and play, but he can also play with them.
Although Yu Qiu Shang did not grow up quickly and was not as good as his twin brother, he could only make "beep bab" and could not grasp things with his hands. However, as long as he can grow up healthily, Yu Qiu Shang will
Heihe and Kaede Imagawa were already very pleased.
After surviving the initial dangerous period, Yu Qiuping originally wanted to stay in Qingzhou City to take care of Yu Qiu Shang. After all, his body still couldn't withstand the bumpy 30-mile journey from Qingzhou City to Kuroda City. However,
However, Yu Qiuping had to return to the territory first, because the territory encountered a series of problems that needed to be solved urgently, and Naoe Tadayei could hardly cope with them.
"Take good care of your children while I'm away." Before leaving, Yu Qiuping asked worriedly.
"Go with peace of mind, Ping," Imagawa Kaede chuckled. Even though she had just given birth, her figure was still in shape and as graceful as before. "Can I do better than a clumsy person like you?"
"This is not like the words of a princess who is not even proficient in female workers and cooking." Yu Qiuping teased, "I leave Shang'er and You'er to you."
·
When Yu Qiupei arrived at the territory, the spring plowing in the territory had basically come to an end. Naoe Tadayei used a series of coordinated methods with amazing efficiency to resettle the more than two hundred households of Tokiwabei in the villages around Kuroda Castle.
, they were given a lot of wasteland and cultivated farmland. The original owner of the farmland was transferred to other villages by Naoe Tadayei, and additional farm compensation was given - somewhat similar to the demolition and house splitting in later generations. Although it took some time,
However, more than two hundred families have reluctantly started spring plowing, but the harvest may not be so good.
In addition, Naoe Tadayei also issued a convening order to the 27 villages in his territory, and asked the village chiefs of each village to come to Kuroda Castle once in mid-March to report on the specific situation in the village, which could be regarded as increasing the prestige of the Yuqiu family.
Although these village chiefs are local snakes who have lived in Owari for generations, they generally reject outsiders. However, the good reputation Yu Qiupei earned by relieving victims in southern Owari has played a major role now. These simple people are
He admired Yu Qiuping very much, welcomed his arrival, and also gave Naoe Tadayei certain cooperation in his work.
The information Lin Xiuzhen gave to Naoe Tadayei was also a great help. Whether it was future taxation, or the collection of corvee and ashigaru, there was a basis that could be relied on.
"So, what is the difficult problem you encountered?" Yu Qiuping was listening to Naoe Tadayei's report on the past four months in the castle tower. It seemed that everything was going very smoothly, so Naoe Tadayei hurriedly called him over.
What is the reason?
"Your Highness..." Naoe Tadayei frowned and whispered: "We have no money."
"No money?" Yu Qiuping was stunned for a moment, "What do you mean?"
Yu Qiuping's rhetorical question made Naoe Tadahira stunned. After a moment, he smiled bitterly and said: "Your Highness, let Sena-sama speak to you. He is the one who forced me to call you back."
A moment later, Tie Gongji Senaji Yoshi rushed into the castle tower with a thick stack of account books. He did not give Yuqiu any sympathy, directly threw the account book on the table, and shouted: "Red leaves, use
There are so many places to spend money! It will be a long time before this year’s autumn harvest! We are going to make ends meet!”
"Not to mention anything else, we have hundreds of people who need money to eat... What we eat now is the food donated to us by the Oda family, and the quantity is not very sufficient." Sena Shigao said in a low voice, "
Because everyone doesn't have enough to eat, Tokiwabi's training has been suspended for a long time! In the spring, everyone was busy with spring plowing, and now they have to help build houses. There has been no training for nearly three months!"
"How can this work?" Yu Qiuping immediately became a little anxious. His personal martial arts skills are not good, and he is not an excellent commander. The reason why he is invincible on the battlefield relies on training day after day:
"You can't stop training! We used to do it every day!"
"Red leaves!" Sena Shiyi was obviously more anxious than Yu Qiuping: "Training is not what you want to train, you can train if you want to! If you want to practice every day, you must at least let the big guys eat one and a half kilograms of food every day!
You need to add an egg or some meat! Otherwise, you will be exhausted and your body will not be able to keep up, so you will not be able to practice! In the past, at the Imagawa family, I was so distressed to see you spend so much money! Your Highness, the Governor of the House, and
Jia Yan still doesn’t care about anything, so I’ll give you support! Do you know that your training funds for Tokiwa Bei will almost wipe out 50,000 kilograms of income!”
"Oh my God! There are so many!" Yu Qiuping was shocked. In the past, he really didn't care much about spending money because he was Imagawa Yoshimoto's prospective son-in-law and a key disciple.
"That's right! Let me tell you!" Sena Shiyi kept talking, "Even if the autumn harvest has already happened! If it is a good year for our 8,000-kou territory, we can probably collect it all with your personal income tax.
We got about 3,500 shi. This 3,500 shi should also be used to save military rations in case of an expedition! We will have to go on an expedition with at least 600 people, which is 1,200 shi if we go on an expedition for four months a year. The remaining food can be exchanged for the full amount.
The cost is only 1,200 strings! Weapons and equipment need to be repaired! Water conservancy projects need to be built! City defenses need to be reinforced! You have to pay for the salary of us warriors! You need to spend money on entertaining guests and giving gifts to your colleagues and superiors.
!" When he said this, he took a breath and continued to shout loudly: "How much food is left? Can this amount be enough to sustain daily training?"
The more Yu Qiuping listened, the darker his face became. He sat down weakly on the stool behind him, holding his forehead deeply with both hands.
"It's impossible!" Sena Jiyoshi shouted categorically: "Don't mention training every day! In order to make ends meet, Tokiwabi's subordinates even have to go to the fields to help during the busy farming season! They can train so much in a year during the slack farming season.
Thank God after a dozen times! Where is the extra spare money?"
"If we can't maintain the training...if this continues, won't Tokiwa Bei become those..." Yu Qiuping whispered with some fear: "Those peasant soldiers that we could defeat before?"
Naoe Tadahira's expression darkened when he heard this, and Sena Shiyoshi was still gasping for breath because he spoke too fast just now.
"I haven't finished talking yet!" After regaining his composure, Sena Shiyoshi spoke again: "The situations I mentioned were all going smoothly and without any mistakes! But how is it possible? What if there is something wrong?
A small disaster would be troublesome! What's more, we are located on the border. If the Saito family comes and harasses us a few times and affects our autumn harvest, we will be finished! We will be unable to make ends meet! We may even have to disarm!"
"Then what should we do!" Yu Qiuping was already extremely anxious, and his voice rose unknowingly: "What can I do?"
"If you can't do anything about Momiji! We won't even be able to survive this summer!" Sena Shiyoshi confronted Yu Qiuping unceremoniously, "Do you know what we are relying on to maintain our expenses now! We rely on Hanamaru and the others in Qingzhou City.
The blacksmith workshop can give us some funds every day! Even so, the salary of the samurai has not been paid since last autumn. It is simply that the brothers have been born and died together, and there is no objection! But in the long run, what should we do?
We must find a way to make money!"
Yu Qiuping couldn't stop being scolded by Sena Shiyi, and sat alone in his seat sulking. When Sena Shiyi finally stopped talking, Yu Qiuping immediately retorted: "I'm not the God of Wealth? I can make money.
?"
"Big deal! I'll settle accounts again!" Yu Qiuping shouted angrily: "Call your agent who knows how to settle accounts! Come back to your old business with me! Make money by settling accounts for others!"
"What are you talking about? Momiji!" Sena Shiyoshi was angry and funny.
"I'm serious!" Yu Qiuping decided to push the argument to the end, "Let's build a house with a row of counters in it! Your civil servants and I will sit in the back and settle the accounts for the bosses!"
Wait a moment…
A house with a row of counters and people sitting behind it... settling accounts?
An idea flashed in Yu Qiuping's mind.
Bank!——The most profitable business, bar none.
·
"Speaking of it! Have you ever heard of a strange store?" Yu Qiuping was as excited as grabbing a life-saving straw. "It accepts people to deposit money! Then it lends the money at a high profit to those who are in urgent need of money.
People! Make profit from this!"
Yu Qiupei looked at Sena Ujiyoshi and Naoe Tadayei and were stunned. He couldn't help but be excited about his wisdom across time and space! The indigenous people in the Middle Ages would not have known such modern inventions.
Who would have thought that Sena Uji simply poured a basin of cold water on Yu Qiupei.
"Does Momiji refer to Tokura?" Sena Ujiyoshi asked doubtfully, "There is one in Qingshu City, and I heard that there is one in the territories of His Highness Hayashi, His Highness Shibata and His Highness Sakuma."
"Nani?" Yu Qiuping, who was feeling proud, felt as if he was struck by lightning, and his eyes almost fell out.
"In order to protect their money from thieves, the people would keep their money with the lord and pay the lord a certain fee every year. Those who are in urgent need of money can also use their own belongings or land deeds as collateral to borrow... uh,
Or to put it more bluntly, it's just borrowing money from usury." Sena Shiyoshi explained with a smile.